Familial Hypercholesterolaemia (FH)

FH causes life-long raised LDL cholesterol, and increased risk of early-onset coronary heart disease (CHD)
Consider where:

• non-HDL-C ≥6.0 or
• LDL-C ≥5.0.

• Exclude non-inherited causes of hyperlipidaemia (see below)
• Measure LDL-C.

Consider FH where:

• LDL-C ≥5.0 AND at least one of:
  • CHD-onset in patient aged <60 years
  • CHD-onset in 1st-degree relative aged <60 years
  • CHD-onset in 2nd-degree relative aged <50 years
  • LDL-C ≥5.0 in 1st / 2nd–degree relative.

If FH suspected, consider referral to specialist clinic – see local lipid or CV risk clinic referral criteria National FH guidelines – see NICE CG71.